The very mention of the furry wee creatures has many people scurrying off in search of cover.

However, perhaps we should give rodents a break.

Sheilagh Stewart won’t hear a bad word said against them.

She is treasurer of the Scottish Rat Club and, as well as sharing her Barrhead home with husband Andy and daughter Kirstie, she lives alongside 25 of the long-tailed critters.

As Sheilagh explained, rats are enjoying something of a renaissance as household pets. In fact, the bond between her family and their beloved pets is so strong that the trio even take their rats with them on caravanning holidays.

Sheilagh told the Paisley Daily Express: “Rats can be as smart as dogs. They have an awareness and respond to names and commands.

“The biggest misconception about them is people instantly think of the wild rat – the dirty, disease-ridden, nasty sewer rat – and all the bad connotations which come along with that.

“In reality, rats are very interactive and want to be with people.

“They make great companions, yet are not as high maintenance as other pets. They don’t need walked, for example.

“Rats are also very gentle and trusting and hugely tolerant of young children. They’re very sociable and caring too. If one of the rats is ill or getting to the end of their life, the others know about it. They look after each other.

“I’ve seen rats take food from the food bowl to friends who are lying unwell – and they are very much a community who work as a collective.

“For example, they will all look after newly-born rats and grieve when they lose one of the group.

“I just love the fact that I can get up for work at 6am on a rainy weekday morning, walk in here and there’s a couple of dozen little beings who are delighted to see you.

“Their company and being able to hold and cuddle them brings so much joy!”

The Scottish Rat Club was formed by three very keen rodent fans back in 2001 and has kept growing ever since.

Andy is the secretary of the club, which has members from all walks of life.

Sheilagh said: “Most of our members are from the Central Belt, so our meetings are usually no further away than Livingston.

“At each get-together, we have different class competitions for pet rats and variety of rats, for both adults and children.

“In the pet rat class, the judges are looking for personality – the cutest rat and the rat that impresses the most.

“For variety showing, all the different types of rats will be assessed individually, such as the Russian blue rats, grey rats, black rats, hooded rats – a whole range of different classes – which are judged for a winner based on several more specific factors, such as the quality of their markings.

“In terms of the perfect rat, male rats should be big and look manly, not feminine.

“Girls should be smaller, leaner and thinner, all with good ears and eyes and a long, thin tail, equal in length to their body.

“At the meetings, we also have agility tests, where we’re looking for the rat who can complete the obstacle course in the fastest time and in the best companionship with their handler.